ED, On the contrary. Books, sutras, written accounts of personal experiences, haiku etc etc. are very useful in Zen. The problem lies in searching for an answer in them. Zen can't be conveyed in words. That much must be clear by now. Again, the problem with an intellectual, analytical mind is that the answer always seems to be just in grasp. Give the search for an answer up. Read for inspiration, or for faith that there is something to be (re)discovered. Afterwards, what was obscure and non-sensical will be as clear as reading this morning's weather forecast. I hope this doesn't come across as patronizing, but my personal favourite (in terms of reading material) is the 10 ox-herding pictures.
Mike ________________________________ From: ED <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Wed, 9 March, 2011 1:25:42 Subject: [Zen] Re: Two Potent Quotes --- In [email protected], Jue Miao Jing Ming - 覺妙精明 <chan.jmjm@...> wrote: > > Good Morning Ed, > > I respect your honest search for the truth in Zen. Good morning JM, For your information and growth only, I would like to inform you (as you had requested) that your statement above comes across as rather patronizing, but I don't mind, really, as you also come across as a very caring person. > Instead of discussion online with too many different perspectives from > various schools and experiences, may I recommend two readings for you. > > Heart Sutra - read, absorb, practice and live it. (only about one > hundred some Chinese characters) > Diamond Sutra - read, absorb, practice and live it. (only about five > thousand Chinese characters) But the only kensho-tinged persons (that I can recognize) in this forum (Bill, Steve and Mike) have advised me to stop reading and thinking. > At every moment in your life, check your heart against the descriptions > in these sutras. > > I trust everyone, probably except Bill, would agree, these two sutra are > the guiding references for most of the Zen, Chan schools. > > By reading, absorbing, practicing, and living it, you may find some > solid reference for your journey. > > Just for your reference. > JM Thank you JM, you are a very kind teacher, and I will do my best. --ED > > --- In [email protected], mike brown uerusuboyo@ wrote: > > > > ED: Zen claims no accomplishments through enlightenment. > > > > Mike: That's true, but on one level it does seem to be more conducive > > to creative endeavours than destructive ones. > > > > ED: Nobody can doubt that in general Zen/enlightenment has positive > > personal fallout - but that's not the objective of zen/enlightenment, > > yes? Neither is any good fallout for humankind or Gaia the goal, > > although that might happen too, yes?
